Homeguard WWII

[Rheghead]

Does anyone know where the secret hideouts for the Homeguard were placed in Caithness?:confused

I saw a documentary on the TV about them and they were built all over the country in the event of invasion. I wondered if there are any still to be seen in the county?

Ask your older relatives if need be!:D

[willowbankbear]

There are 2 lookout shelters still on the North Head there is what looks like an old demolished 1 at South Head, there are still concrete blocks around the Beaches to prevent invasion by tanks

[Rheghead]

Thanks Willowbankbear but it is the hideouts that the Homeguard were supposed to retreat to and operate from once the invasion had started that I was most interested in. They would most likely have had an inland location where they could conceal their approach to. They were basically pits with a brick lining and a dragover door.

[Ricco]

Hi, Rheghead.

There could be something of what you are looking for up along the Thurso river. Walk up the West bank well past the footbridge and the Salmon Pool. Keep going up towards the old swing bridge (if its still there) and somewhere up the bank is an old Anderson shelter buried in the side of the bank. You used to be able to get in (we used to shelter from the rain as kids) through the small entrance.

Of course, could be gone by now I guess.

[Naefearjustbeer]

I think it is still there, There was an article in the groat a few years back that listed a lot of locations. Many are now long gone if I remember correctly. They were designed to keep an elite squad that would venture out on midnight skirmishes to weaken the enemy if we were ever invaded so they were well hidden.

[Sairheed]

The article referred to above, as I recall, was by Geoff Leet or Thurso who, I think is an authority on the subject.

[Saveman]

Hi Rheghead,

Part of my work for the Council has been on the HomeGuard during WWII.
It's all on http://www.ambaile.org.uk including secret memos etc. You should find what you are looking for on that site.

[Phoebus_Apollo]

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/cgi-bin/webdata_roc.pl?cgifunction=Search&County=Caithness

This shows various underground observation posts in caithness - I recently visited the ROC post at duncansby head - you climb down a vent opening into an underground room!!

[Rheghead]

Thanks very much for the info, I will take a look! I think the Homeguard was an important part of our history and a culturally fascinating one at that.